Biotech sector grows by 20 pc
Fledgling biotechnology sector posted USD 2.56 billion (INR 103 billion) in revenue during 2007-08, registering 20 per cent growth over the previous fiscal at USD 2.1 billion, an industry survey revealed.
Private DNA bank launched in India
A human DNA Bank was established by an Indian biotechnology firm director in northern city Lucknow recently. This is Asia’s only and the world’s second human DNA Bank.
NEWS REVIEW – INDIA
[This article was published in the May 2008 issue of the eHEALTH Magazine (https://www.ehealthonline.org)]
India News
Govt to provide INR 100 cr to pharma industry
With a view to promote research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, the government plans to provide soft loans of INR 100 crore to the industry in the current fiscal.
Venture capitalists’ interest in Biotech raises record USD 9.1 bn
Venture capitalists pumped a record USD 9.1 billion into privately-held US biotechnology and medical device companies last year, in hopes of making discoveries they can sell to larger drugmakers.
India and France to cooperate in the health sector
Union Health Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, currently on an official visit to France, discussed cooperation in certain fields such as Medical Research, Biotechnology, Development of vaccine, Promotion of Indian Systems of medicines and cooperation between ICMR and INSERM of France
Developing nations will lobby for research funds for TB, malaria
India and other developing countries are set to lobby hard for funding mechanisms to develop medicines,
mostly aimed at neglected diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, at a forum set up by the World Health Organization or WHO. Developed countries have long maintained that patents are sufficient incentive for innovation.
India’s Drug Regulatory Authority to be based on US FDA Model
In the next three years, India would move towards setting up a drug regulatory authority on the model of the US FDA, the country
Cellworks in collaboration with Orchid on drug discovery
Cellworks Research India, the Bangalore-based research and development (R&D) wing of Cellworks Group Inc (California-headquartered company), has assisted Chennai-based Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals by providing system biology technology in carrying out ongoing New Chemical Entity (NCE) research programme.
New National Biotechnology Policy
Lauding the government’s initiative of unveiling a National Biotechnology Policy, industry experts said that it was imperative that this policy was implemented in a time bound manner and that the government ensured that it “walked the talk” if the industry had to reap the benefits of the policy.
CRAMS to global pharma companies, give good returns
The pharma sector may have underperformed in the Sensex , but companies providing contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) to global pharma companies have given good returns.
First health institute in Nagaland
[This article was published in the December 2007 issue of the eHEALTH Magazine (https://www.ehealthonline.org)]
News Review
Ranbaxy may dilute 60% in new R&D unit
Ranbaxy Laboratories may dilute up to 60% stake in its new research company, which will be formed by hiving off its R&D unit into a separate entity in 2008.
